Teton Village, WY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/06/2018 -- A review paper to be published in Environmental Research today concludes that the current scientific evidence supports the conclusion that mobile phone and wireless radiofrequency radiation (RFR) is cancer-causing. This paper is a review and summary of animal experimental evidence and human epidemiology studies (case-control, cohort, time trend and case studies) published after the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emissions from mobile phones and other wireless devices as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) in 2011. The authors conclude that the current scientific evidence strengthens and supports an upgraded classification that RFR should now be categorized as carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1).
"With the epidemiological studies of humans over many years and the recent findings of the US National Toxicology Program and Ramazzini Institute animal studies, we now have enough evidence to classify Radiofrequency Radiation as carcinogenic to humans. Thus, it is critical that governments take action to reduce human exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation, and halt the introduction of 5G networks," stated author Anthony B. Miller MD of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and Senior Advisor to Environmental Health Trust.
Examples of the scientific evidence included in the paper:
Thirteen studies published since 2011 associate mobile phone use with increased tumors. Specifically nine studies report increased risk of brain cancer from mobile phone use, and four case-control studies report increased risk of vestibular nerve tumors from mobile phone use.
The US National Toxicology Program Carcinogenesis Studies of Cell Phone Radiofrequency Radiation rats which found increases in glioma and schwannoma of the heart of male rats.
The Ramazzini Institute's "Report of final results regarding brain and heart tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed from prenatal life until natural death to mobile phone radiofrequency field representative of a 1.8?GHz GSM base station environmental emission."
Gliomas and acoustic neuromas are the specific focus of the paper as similar tumors are found in both human and animal studies of mobile phone radiofrequency radiation. Case-control studies were considered to be superior to the cohort studies or other methods in evaluating potential risks for brain cancer as case control studies allow more detailed consideration with a focus on highly exposed persons. Studies that only consider cancer rate increases in the general population will not necessarily pick up an increase in tumors as cancer from an environmental exposure can take four decades to be evident in the general population and widespread exposure to mobile phone RFR has been only about two decades.
The authors conclude that "current evidence is strong enough to go from precaution concerning possible risk to prevention of known risks" with a "concerted program of public and health professional education" to promote safer technology "while every attempt should be made to reduce exposure to RFR in schools, as well as homes."
The article is "Cancer Epidemiology Update, following the 2011 IARC Evaluation of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (Monograph 102)" by Anthony B. Miller, L. Lloyd Morgan, Iris Udasin and Devra Lee Davis. It will be published in the journal Environmental Research published by Elsevier on September 6, 2018.
About Environmental Research
Environmental Research publishes original reports describing studies of the adverse effects of environmental agents on humans and animals. The principal aim of the journal is to assess the impact of chemicals and microbiological pollutants on human health. Both in vivo and in vitro studies, focused on defining the etiology of environmentally induced illness and to increase understanding of the mechanisms by which environmental agents cause disease, are especially welcome. Investigations on the effects of global warming/climate change on the environment and public health, as well as those focused on the effects of anthropogenic activities on climate change are also of particular interest.
About Environmental Health Trust
Environmental Health Trust (EHT) is a scientific think tank that educates individuals, health professionals and communities about controllable environmental health risks and policy changes needed to reduce those risks. The foundation's website is the go-to place for clear, science-based information to prevent disease. Please visit http://www.ehtrust.org. Find EHT on Facebook.